The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-03
PETITIONS.

| tolls.
By Burney-From citizens of San An
tonic, on same subject.
! By Clairborne-From citizens OF Gal
weston, on same subject.
Senator Harrissn--F0r the committee
ON counties and county boundaries, ro-
ported favorably the bill to Greats the
county of Brewster.
Senator Frank-For the COMMITTEES On
engro5sed bills, reported several bills cor
rectly engrossed
By. Calhoun-ro amend the code OF
criminal procedure.
By Fieds-To legalize and validate the
ordinances of cities and towns in certain
cases; also to authorize the appointment
of inspector of illuminating oils and
fluids also to diminish the civil Jurlsdlc-
ton of the county court of Brazos county.
By Burney-To provide for the better
prote ton of stock, and approprlating
! $4,000 to pay for Welt, Mexican lion
and other wild animal scslps.
By Glas5cock-To regulate the prac-
tice of architecture in the state of Texas
Tho Joint resolution by Claiborne, spe-
cal order for tho day, was laid before the
senate, and read as follows:
Be it resolved, That the president OF
the senate appoint special committee OF
three senators to act alone, or with SIM
liar committee OF the house of repre-
sentatives, which said committee may be
sub-divided into three sub-committees
The duty of said committee shall be to
ascertain the bonded Indebtedness of all
corporations doing business III the state,
| and whether or not all railroads and
other corporate bodies doing business IN
the state have eorDplied fully with the
law governing such corporations, that
said committee be charged with the fur
Their duty of comparing the books of all
corporations with their sworn reports
made to the comptroller of public &C
counts of this state; also the ascertaining
of what substantial grounds of complaint
| (if any now exist i'll this state In regard
to the charges made by common carriers
on the commerce or production OF the
state, and the relations existing between
the owners and the users of common car
riers. The inquiry will involve the con-
sideration of number of Incidental
questions, briefly the following:
|. The best method of preventing ex-
tortions and unjust determinations by
all common carriers and corporations
operated in this state.
2. The difference now charged be
tween local and through freight and pas
senger tariff, if any exists.
3. The best method of securing stable
and uniform rates.
4. To ascertain the elements of cost,
condition of business, and other factors
that shonld be considered in fixing a
tariff of charges by common carriers on
commerce and passengers.
5. Shall any rebate or drawbacks be
allowed? Shall free passes be granted to
any state official? Shall the common
carriers be subjected to inspection by the
proper officials, or shall said official in
spection be prohibited?
6. Shall there be any pooling per-
mitted? If yes, shall it be regulated by
law, be public and made subject to Off
cial approval?
7. Shall provision be made allowing
the users the right to say which line or
part of line over which their produce
shall be transported?
s. By what method can uniform sys
tem of rates of transportation by all
corporations engaged as common car
riers be best secured?
8. Shall common carriers be permitted
to charge lower proportion for long
than shorter haul?
10. Shall any concession be made in
rates to large over small shippers, and
shall it be made public?
IL. Shall all corporations and COM
mon carriers be required to keep uni
form accounts?
II. To define what portion of the bus
mess of corporations shall be reported
to the comptroller of public accounts,
and define the items that each sworn re-
port shall contain.
IS. In what manner can the laws reg
ulating state commerce be enforced? Shall
it be by commission or other tribunal es-
tabished by law?
IA. In what manner and what per
cent. on the cost of construction of rail
roads has been made in the past year, up
to October 81, 1886!
And that said committee be further
charged with the preparation of
bill to be referred to the
proper senate committee, amending the
present railway law, or the creation of a
new law for the government of all corpor-
atoms operating in this state, and that
said bill shall be referred to the senate
committee on commerce and manufacto-
ries, who shall report the same to this
body, with their action thereon, without
delay, and that the senate make such APP
preparation as may be necessary for de-
fraying the expenses of the Investigating
committee, and that said committee have
power to administer oaths, summon wit
nesses, and do and perform all things neces-
sary to attain the end sought in the prem
ises, towit: The employment of expert
accountants, who may receive not to ex-
coed ten dollars per day each, and cents
per mile for travelling expenses, while alb
solutely in the employ of the committee,
and that they make such report and file
such bill as they can in twenty-one days
or sooner, after the passage of this reso-
luton.
The committee reported, recommending
that it be considered in committee of the
whole, and the report was adopted.
The bill to provide for the drouth suf-
ferers was taken up on third reading, and
passed. but failed to do so by the neces-
sary two-thirds, TO put it into effect i'm
mediately.
Senators Terrell, Claiborne and Davis
changed their votes to yea, so as to put
the law into effect at once, but it still
lacked one vote, and the president was re-
quested to suspend the announcement of
the vote for few moments until Senator
Houston could be brought in. Senator